Friday, December 29, 2006

Barry Zito and the San Francisco Giants reached a preliminary agreement on the largest contract for a pitcher in baseball history, a seven-year, $126 million deal.

There was no immediate confirmation from the Giants, but details of the contract were provided yesterday to the Associated Press by two people familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal wasn't announced by the team.

Zito's agreement, reached late Wednesday night, includes an $18 million option for 2014 with a $7 million buyout that could increase the value to $137 million. The option would become guaranteed if Zito pitches 200 innings in 2013, 400 combined in 2012 and 2013 or 600 combined from 2011 to '13.

Zito is scheduled to have a physical today, and the Giants planned to announce their agreement with the three-time all-star later in the day.

Zito has been among the most durable pitchers in the majors, making 34 or more starts and throwing 210 or more innings in six straight seasons. He has never missed a start.

He was 16-10 with a 3.83 ERA last season and has a 102-63 career record with a 3.55 ERA. Zito won the 2002 AL Cy Young Award after going 23-5.

Only Alex Rodriguez ($252 million), Derek Jeter ($189 million), Manny Ramirez ($160 million), Todd Helton ($141.5 million) and Alfonso Soriano ($136 million) have contracts with more guaranteed money. . . .

Former New York Yankee Bobby Murcer was recovering at a Houston hospital after surgery to remove a brain tumor. The 60-year-old Murcer, now a Yankees broadcaster, was awake and resting comfortably.

· PRO BASKETBALL: The Memphis Grizzlies fired Coach Mike Fratello after an NBA-worst 6-24 start. The Grizzlies' career winningest coach, Fratello had a 95-83 record and had guided Memphis to consecutive playoff appearances. Tony Barone Sr., the Grizzlies' director of player personnel, was selected to be the interim coach. . . .

Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade's injured right wrist showed no structural damage in tests performed yesterday, and the team said its leading scorer is day-to-day. . . .

The Atlanta Hawks signed former Lakers forward-center Slava Medvedenko.

· COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Louisville cornerback Gavin Smart broke his right leg during practice and will not play in the Orange Bowl against Wake Forest next week.

· FIGURE SKATING: World champion figure skater Kimmie Meissner, 17, will enroll next fall at Delaware to study physical therapy.

· WINTER SPORTS: Michael Walchhofer ended a 13-race winless streak by the Austrian men's team, winning a World Cup downhill by 0.01 seconds. Walchhofer skied the 1.8-mile Stelvio course in Bormio, Italy, in 1 minute 51.90 seconds.

Bode Miller, who won the downhill and Super-G on the same course at the 2005 World Championships, failed to finish a downhill for the first time this season after skiing off course near the top of the run. . . .

Kathrin Zettel, Nicole Hosp and Marlies Schild gave Austria a sweep of the top three spots in a World Cup giant slalom in Semmering, Austria.

-- From News Services